Arsenal have completed the sale of Oleksandr Zinchenko to Ajax in a deal worth €1.5m, bringing his three-year spell in north London to a close.Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty ImagesThe Ukraine in...
Arsenal have completed the sale of Oleksandr Zinchenko to Ajax in a deal worth €1.5m, bringing his three-year spell in north London to a close.
Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
The Ukraine international departs after a loan spell at Nottingham Forest that failed to ignite, with Sean Dyche making it clear earlier this season that Zinchenko was not part of the club’s long-term plans. That decision led to the early termination of his loan and opened the door for a permanent move to the Netherlands.
The transfer sees Arsenal recoup a modest fee for a player they signed from Manchester City in 2022 for €35m. The structure of the deal includes add-ons, understood to be linked to Ajax qualifying for the Champions League.
Zinchenko arrived at Arsenal as a signing viewed internally as both ambitious and tactically significant. Mikel Arteta saw him as a player capable of operating at left back while stepping into midfield in possession, adding flexibility and experience to the side rather than simply providing squad depth.
Across all competitions, Zinchenko made 91 appearances for Arsenal, scoring three goals and providing five assists. His time at the club, however, was repeatedly disrupted by injury, with ongoing calf problems limiting his availability across successive seasons.
Arsenal noted, “Alex’s season-long loan with Nottingham Forest has been ended by mutual consent, and the defender now moves to the Netherlands to join the Eredivisie side. We thank Alex for his contribution to the club and wish him and his family well in their new chapter.”
The reduced transfer fee reflects Zinchenko’s contract situation, with the defender entering the final months of his deal. With limited leverage, Arsenal opted to move him on permanently while also removing his wages from the books for the remainder of the campaign.
Zinchenko endured a difficult spell on loan at Nottingham Forest and has previously described last season as the toughest of his career. The move to Ajax now offers him the opportunity for a fresh start in a new league.
He joins former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu who recently signed a short-term deal with the Dutch giants after he was released by the Gunners.
Category: General Sports
